Sunday 8 November 2015

What is Sovereign Debt?

Sovereign debt is simply money or credit owed by a government to its creditors. These debts typically include securities, bonds or bills with maturity dates ranging from less than a year to more than ten years. 

But the term can also be used to describe future obligations like pensions, entitlement programs, and other goods and services that were contracted but not paid.

Concerns around sovereign debt have been growing since World War II.

During that time, many countries went into debt to finance either the war itself or the rebuilding efforts afterwards. However, modern Keynesian economics supports a fairly high level of public debt to pay for public investment in lean times under the premise that it can be paid back by the growth that follows.

Measuring Sovereign Debt

Sovereign debt is can be measured using a variety of different metrics. Often times, these metrics are used in order to determine if a country's sovereign debt is too high given its gross domestic product (GDP) or abilities to tax its citizens. But these factors should also take into account a country' GDP growth rate, which can dramatically influence its future ability to repay debt.

The three most popular metrics are:


1. Total Public Debt -
The total public debt is the total amount of debt outstanding. But without context, this figure isn't very informative and can be misleading. As a result, most experts look towards Debt-to-GDP and Debt per Capita as common measures.

2. Debt as a Percent of GDP - Debt as a percentage of gross domestic product is simply the total public debt divided by GDP. Countries with a debt greater than their GDP (or a ratio over 100%) are generally considered to be over indebted.

3. Debt per Capita - Debt per capita is simply the total debt divided by the number of citizens. A debt per capita that is in excess of per capita income reduces the likelihood that the government will be able to make up its shortfall through traditional taxation.


International investors can find the levels of public sector debt via the World Bank, CIA World Factbook or individual central bank websites.

Sovereign Debt Statistics

Sovereign debt levels have been on the rise since World War II. From Russia's financial crisis in 1998 to Argentina's default in 2001, these debts have been the source of much financial turmoil. But what countries are most at-risk and what countries are deemed safe for international investors? 


Below are some statistics from www.tradingeconomics.com/

Sovereign Debt Ratings

Sovereign debt ratings can help investors determine the credit risks associated with a given country by taking into account not only debt levels, but political risk, regulatory risk and other factors. Some studies have shown that these ratings can influence debt costs by as much as 25% per notch. The three most popular credit rating agencies are Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investor Services, and Fitch Ratings.


Edited article from http://internationalinvest.about.com/




Last PreviousHighestLowestUnitReferenceFrequency
Japan230.00224.20230.0050.60
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Greece177.10175.00177.1022.60
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Lebanon134.41133.36185.19130.80
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Jamaica132.72135.50135.5087.31
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Italy132.30128.50132.3090.50
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Portugal130.20129.70130.2048.50
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Cape Verde114.22101.63114.2254.28
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Ireland109.70123.20123.2024.80
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Cyprus107.50102.20107.5048.90
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Belgium106.50104.40133.1074.10
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
United States102.98101.17121.7031.70
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Bhutan101.3098.40101.3036.90
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Singapore99.30103.20106.2066.90
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Spain97.7092.1097.7016.60
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
France95.0092.3095.0020.70
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Euro Area91.9090.9091.9066.20
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Egypt90.5087.10102.3073.30
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
United Kingdom89.4087.3089.4031.30
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Jordan86.6880.17219.7360.24
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Canada86.5187.66101.7066.50
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Iceland86.4091.40101.0023.00
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Austria84.5080.9084.5056.10
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Slovenia80.9070.3080.9018.30
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Croatia80.6076.0080.6034.40
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Sudan79.0070.70139.3056.30
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Zimbabwe77.0066.20147.7031.40
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Hungary76.9077.3082.200.00
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Sri Lanka75.5078.30103.2075.50
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Germany74.7077.1080.3055.60
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Bahamas73.4066.2073.4023.20
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Ukraine71.2140.6571.2112.30
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Serbia70.9059.60201.2028.30
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Albania69.1164.8284.6053.43
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Netherlands68.8068.6076.1045.30
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Sao Tome and Principe68.2372.45309.2033.30
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Malta68.0069.2069.8035.30
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Ghana67.6055.64125.4026.20
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Israel67.5067.6096.7067.50
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Mauritania66.9065.60280.4560.80
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Belize66.3066.7087.1031.40
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
India66.1065.8084.3065.80
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Guyana65.8063.90135.7059.90
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Seychelles65.0069.0087.0049.00
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Pakistan64.3064.8087.9054.90
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Morocco63.8961.70117.7121.66
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Uruguay62.8062.10111.5554.90
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
El Salvador62.3861.3762.3837.35
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Laos62.0333.4381.7033.43
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Finland59.3055.6059.3010.80
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Brazil58.9156.8060.9053.40
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Costa Rica58.3255.8858.6836.57
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Montenegro56.8453.9756.8427.50
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Mozambique55.4046.90138.4037.50
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Slovakia53.6054.6054.6027.90
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Malaysia52.8054.7080.7431.80
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Mauritius52.8058.3063.7048.40
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Mongolia51.7045.30105.5024.50
percent
Dec/11Yearly[+]
Fiji50.6051.4056.2033.69
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Vietnam50.5054.9854.9831.90
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Poland50.1055.7055.7036.80
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Yemen49.9551.7051.8027.20
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Kenya49.8044.5078.3042.80
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Venezuela49.8045.9071.9026.30
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Nicaragua49.1049.80169.1049.10
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Gambia47.7044.50117.4035.10
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Tunisia47.5044.3869.9040.20
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Kyrgyzstan46.7043.80122.2743.80
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Macedonia45.9040.4048.8023.00
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Lesotho45.8037.7088.6636.90
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Dominican Republic45.7946.1446.1416.43
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Thailand45.7043.7057.8015.20
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Panama45.6041.70115.7541.70
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Philippines45.4049.2074.9045.40
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Denmark45.2045.0058.1027.50
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Eritrea45.0029.1062.5029.10
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Djibouti44.5648.1067.8044.56
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Sweden43.9038.7073.2036.20
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Argentina43.0038.80166.0033.30
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Czech Republic42.7545.1845.1812.50
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Honduras42.6342.1768.0623.07
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Bahrain42.0041.3042.008.50
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Central African Republic41.8350.5797.4030.50
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Trinidad and Tobago41.6038.6058.8413.18
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Armenia41.2338.4546.2113.56
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
China41.0639.3841.0619.99
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Lithuania40.9038.8040.9015.50
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Latvia40.0038.2044.509.00
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Tanzania39.9039.5066.6031.10
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Myanmar39.7240.81140.9539.72
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Romania39.6038.0039.6012.40
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
South Africa39.0037.0043.5027.80
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Papua New Guinea38.8032.7071.0623.60
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Colombia38.0035.8045.6023.30
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Sierra Leone37.6536.90247.3834.96
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Iraq37.0232.10334.8532.10
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Georgia36.8037.9043.6221.55
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Belarus36.7138.46112.500.15
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Taiwan36.5035.8036.5011.19
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Ivory Coast36.4139.9284.2029.00
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
South Korea35.9834.5235.988.24
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Senegal35.2029.6072.6017.70
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Madagascar34.9034.00111.8824.30
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Uganda34.7033.2684.4022.10
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Switzerland34.2034.9051.6025.10
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Republic of the Congo34.0032.00270.1822.89
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Australia33.8830.9033.889.70
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Liberia33.2026.60720.7326.00
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Turkey33.0035.8577.9033.00
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Bolivia32.4032.6080.4032.40
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Hong Kong32.0033.8435.4713.70
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Qatar31.4832.1167.138.03
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Angola31.0034.57104.5020.60
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Zambia31.0028.80277.5328.80
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Guinea Bissau30.8026.70209.5021.40
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Mexico30.7028.6037.2017.10
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
New Zealand30.4331.0061.0214.55
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Bosnia and Herzegovina30.4028.2056.0417.00
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Syria30.0131.21189.7630.01
percent
Dec/10Yearly[+]
Ecuador29.8024.2085.5016.40
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Nepal28.8031.9069.5028.80
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Ethiopia28.6027.4041.8024.70
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Bulgaria28.4028.4077.6013.20
percent
Aug/15Monthly[+]
Tajikistan28.3429.18111.7828.34
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Burkina Faso28.3022.4843.4020.90
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Cambodia28.1228.7643.1627.46
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Rwanda28.0029.42119.5021.27
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Gabon27.7026.9086.9616.73
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Haiti26.7021.3260.8811.97
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Norway26.4029.3053.8026.40
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Comoros26.3051.3078.1026.30
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Suriname26.2029.20114.9816.86
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Indonesia25.0224.9087.4322.96
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Niger24.8023.8069.9015.80
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Moldova24.6023.60159.4219.27
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Maldives24.4029.4047.3524.40
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Guatemala24.3125.3650.4520.82
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Namibia24.0021.8027.4914.22
percent
Mar/15Quarterly[+]
Chad23.8030.2061.9023.10
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Luxembourg23.6024.0024.006.10
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Botswana23.1026.0026.005.98
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Guinea20.8122.97113.0020.81
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Togo20.8017.30124.0013.60
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Peru20.7020.3047.1020.30
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Cuba20.2021.1021.1014.80
percent
Dec/11Yearly[+]
Cameroon19.9013.40131.449.30
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Congo19.6918.88181.6218.88
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Cayman Islands19.5021.1024.507.50
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Benin18.3018.0058.2011.40
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Bangladesh18.0018.9044.9018.00
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Malawi18.0025.50119.7014.60
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Russia17.9214.0299.007.90
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Palestine17.3619.0426.362.93
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Turkmenistan16.8021.1064.412.42
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Iran16.3615.7622.678.93
percent
Dec/15Yearly[+]
United Arab Emirates15.6815.8724.102.70
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Paraguay15.1612.6066.9012.50
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Chile15.1012.8031.403.90
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Kazakhstan14.8612.8617.605.90
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Burundi14.2015.10224.6014.20
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Azerbaijan13.7511.6024.207.30
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Kosovo11.2110.7611.215.51
percent of GDP
Jun/15Quarterly[+]
Estonia10.6010.1010.603.70
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Nigeria10.5011.0088.0010.50
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Swaziland9.909.9826.168.78
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Algeria8.768.32116.208.32
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Uzbekistan8.708.5859.388.58
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Equatorial Guinea7.608.99325.600.80
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Kuwait7.146.54203.361.09
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Afghanistan6.606.70184.006.60
percent
Dec/13Yearly[+]
Libya6.106.8021.205.90
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Oman4.804.9038.574.10
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Brunei2.602.482.600.00
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]
Saudi Arabia1.602.20103.501.60
percent
Dec/14Yearly[+]